It will take several hours for about ten peoople to travel from Kirkintilloch to Torrance – because they will go by canoe. All under the trained eye of Wild by Nature, a canoe company based in Kirkintilloch. In groups of ten, the flotilla will see the Kelvin from a different angle, enjoy new sounds, see both plant and wildlife and stop to explore interesting places along the way.

Paddle -ing from Kirkintilloch Bridge in the East of the town, the intrepid explorers will finish in Torrance. A group of FORKS (Friends of the River Kelvin) recently did this route. They saw buzzards, mallard ducks, sand martins, swallows, brown trout, cows and many tree species, wild flowers and river plant life.

Said Wild by Nature boss, Cliff Giddings, who has canoed professionally: ‘The trip was relaxing, very quiet and peaceful and provided gentle exercise,’ He said more strenuous routes were available for those who could take them. Charles Thompson, Secretary of FORK who was one of the participants said: ‘We got loads of fresh air and the day was excellently led by Wild By Nature.’ email:info@wildbynature.eu or tel: 0141 777 6211.

Weekly litter pick-ups are still being held by FORK members every Saturday from 10.30am. And on Saturday 6 August they will tidy up the riverbank at Kelvindale Road. Said Charles: ‘We intend to uproot a patch of Himalayan Balsam (one of the three major invasive plant species on the River Kelvin.’. The organisation invites anyone interested to join them. Contact the Secretary on email: friendsriverkelvin@live.co.uk or tel:0141 563 6498 and see website: www.fork.org.uk

FORK members were given an especially big thank you from Keep Scotland Beautiful because they’d collected an amazing 120 bags of rubbish and other debris over four Saturdays in April during the National Spring Clean 2011.

Editor's Corner

Mhairi Black, MP made the House of Commons sit up and listen in a way few maiden speeches have done. She spoke honestly and from real, personal, knowledge. That is probably a pointer to other MPs of all parties – speak the truth, speak from genuine experience and don’t hesitate to say where you stand. […]